All nahln level 1, level 2 and level 3 laboratories will receive annual infrastructure support from the USDA/aphis

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded a $356,300 Cooperative Agreement to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to provide annual infrastructure support to all National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) Level 1, 2, and 3 laboratories. The purpose is to assist these laboratories in meeting their responsibilities under the 2024 NAHLN participation agreement, enhancing the overall capacity and capabilities of the network to respond to animal disease outbreaks. The funding will support improvements to quality management systems, laboratory information management, staffing expertise, and critical equipment to improve laboratory operations and testing outcomes. This aligns with the objectives of the USDA Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care Federal Grant Program (CFDA 10.025) to protect U.S. agriculture from economically damaging plant and animal diseases, pests, and threats. The award period is from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025.

The purpose of this agreement is to assist the laboratory in meeting the responsibilities required of their designated level as outlined in the 2024 agreement for participation in the national animal health laboratory network (nahln). In addition, IT will support an overall increase in nahln capacity and capabilities to meet the needs faced during an adverse animal health event caused by the presence of an emerging disease or foreign animal disease. This will be accomplished by providing support for; quality management systems, laboratory information management systems to electronically submit testing data accurately and consistently, improving staffing expertise and proficiency, and enhancing equipment that will directly enhance work product, test outcomes, etc. This agreement will benefit the overall network as well as the american population by helping to ensure the rapid response to an adverse animal health event.